Massage bed



June 24, 1958 A. J. STEARNS MASSAGE BED Filed Afig. 24, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ulll lHhIlI Y 10a 82 76 I05 Aus/ih J. Sfearns IN VEN TOR.

9 BY wads ova WWI E M1 June 24, 1958 A. J. STEARNS 2,840,072

MASSAGE BED Filed Aug. 24, 1954 v s Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 5

Auslm J. .Sfeams INVEN TOR.

My. E

Attorneys MASSAGE BED Austin I. Stearns, Seflner, Fla., assignor of one-half t Frank P. lngram, Tampa, Fla.

Application August 24, 1954, Serial No. 451,937

14 Claims. (Cl. 128-57) This invention relates to a therapeutic appliance for use in physical medicine and more particularly to a novel massaging apparatus.

The primary object of the present invention resides in the provision of a massaging apparatus which is a step especially adapted to provide a highly effective massaging for substantially all parts of the body of a patient in a manner so as to loosen and relax the muscles and nerves of the patient to thereby provide a highly stimulative and effective treatment which will also increase the circulation of the patient.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of means for varying the shape of a massage bed and its angular inclination so as to enable patients having various disabilities to be most comfortably supported while enabling varying treatments to be afforded.

A further object of the machine resides in the inclusion of a plurality of simultaneously operated eccentrically disposed rollers which are-separately operated at either of which are secondly operated at an optimum speed independent of the position of the massage bed.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of a massage bed that is strong and durable, highly efiicient in operation and substantially foolproof.

These together with the various ancillary, objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds relative to the massage bed, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational viewof the massage bed describing the present invention; a

.Figure 2 is a top plan view of the massage bed illustrating in greatest detail the construction of the shafts and rollers mounted thereon; i a

"Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the planeof line 33 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view astaken along the various planes of line 4-4 in Figure 1;

the plane of line 5-5 of Figure 3 and illustrating the drive apparatus of this invention with greatest clarity;

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional detail view as taken along a plane transverse to the shaft on which the bushings and rollers are mounted and illustrating the manner in which the bushings are keyed, the rollers being mounted on the bushings;

Figure 7 includes schematic illustrations of the various shapes which the massage bed may attain; and

Figure 8 are secti onal views illustrating various forms of rollers.

With continuing reference to theaccompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, the reference numeral 10 generally designates the massaging apparatus comprising the present invention. Thismassage apparatus 2,846,972 Patented June 24, 1958 includes a pair of base members 12 which are interconnected by cross-pieces 14 and to which standards 16 are attached in any suitable manner such as by bolts, rivets or by welding, the standards being joined and rigidified by cross members 18. The base 12 and standards 16 as well as the cross members 14 and 18 cooperate to form a suitable stand for the massage bed 10.

A pair of arcuate substantially semi-circular spaced frame support members 20 and 22 are adjustably pivotally secured to the standards 16 by means of fasteners 24 and 26 which extend through the arcuate slots 28 and 30 formed in the frame support members 20 and 22. The fasteners are locked when oscillating movement is not needed. Spacers 32 and 34 on fasteners 24 and 26 hold the frame support members 20 and 22 spaced from the standards 16.

Secured to and attached to the frame suppppt members i 20 and 22 is a substantially rectangular frame 36 having substantially planar end portions and a concave center portion. The frame 36 is formed of suitable angle members and is pivotally manually adjustably and rigidly secured to the standards 16 by means of fasteners 38 and 40 which extend through spacers 42 and 44, see Figure 4, which hold the frame 36 spaced from the standards 16.

Welded to or otherwise attached to and extending between the support members 20 and 22 is a platform 46. Mounted on the platform 46 is an electric motor 48 for driving the massage apparatus. The electric motor 48 drives a shaft 50 which, in turn, drives a pulley 52 through a gear box or transmission 54 and through universals 56 and 58 Mounted on the shaft 50 is a pair of gears 60 and 62. Intermeshed with the gear 60 is a larger gear 64 mounted on a shaft journaled in suitable bearings 68 and 70 on the platform 46. This can be seen best in Figure 5. The gear 64 is a composite sliding gear having a relatively large gear portion and a relatively small gear portion which is free to slide on the shaft 66. This gear is to apply or release power to foot board 92.

A shaft 72 is journaled in a suitable bearing 74 and has a gear 76 thereon intermeshed with the gear 62. The gear 62 when the shaft 50 is rotating will thus drive the shaft 72 which in turn when the transmission or gear box 78 is in an engaged position will cause the gear St) to drive gear 82 mounted on the shaft 66 and so drive the shaft 66. However, with the gear box or transmission 78 in a disengaged position and the brake applied to outlet shaft, the message bed is held in any desired position, see Figure 7, while the massage rollers continue to operate through transmission 54. The transmission 78 having different speeds enables shaft 66 to be driven at different speeds to enable side rails 108, 110 and the massage bed to be "55 Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view as taken along a oscillated at selected speeds.

The gear 64 is adapted to engage a gear 84 mounted on a shaft 86 journaled in bearings 88 and 9t bolted or otherwise attached to the platform 46. Mounted on the frame 36 is a suitably shaped foot board 92 which is adapted to be moved slidingly along the frame 36 by means of a linkage including downwardly depending legs 93 and 94 to which links 96 and 98 are attached and which are eccentrically driven as at 180 and 102 by the shaft 86. This will cause the foot board 92 to reciprocate.

Eccentrically attached to the shaft 66 by means of suitable pairs of crank arms 104 and 166 are a pair of eccentric push rods 105 and 187 to which side rails 108 and 110 are attached as at 124, and of a predetermined configuration. Also connected through suitable linkages 112 and 114 to the shaft 66, are connecting rods 116 .and 118 which are attached. to studs 120 and 122, see Figure 5, extending upwardly from one of the cross members 14. Hence, upon rotation of the shaft 66, the massage bed and side rails 108 and 110 will be oscillated in seesaw fashion with respect to the cross members 14.

Positioned on the frame 36 and supported in the central portion of the frame 36 by the side rails 108 and 110 is the massage bed itself which includes a pair of spaced sets of interconnected links 126 and 128, see Fig. 2, through which a plurality of shafts 130 extend. The pushrods105 and 107 are attached (Figure 3) to one of the shafts 130 and impart oscillatory movement; tothe center section of the group of bed shafts 130. The shafts 130 have eccentrically keyed as by set screws 132, bushings 134, on which rollers 136 which may be covered with rubber as at 138 or any other suitable material face plates. The rollers may be of the shapes as seen in Figure 8 or of any other suitable shape as may be desired and the outer surfaces of these rollers may have varying configurations.

Mounted on the ends of the shafts 130 are gears 140 which are interengaged and which are driven-by a gear 142 which in turn is mounted on the shaft 144 driven by a pulley 146 connected with the pulley 52 by means of an endless belt 148. Hence, upon actuation of the electric motor 48, the shaft 50 will rotate causing movement of the endless belt 148 and hence rotation and loping of all of the rollers 136. Further, the operation of the motor 43 and transmission 78 will cause operatiori'at'a selected speed of the shaft 66 which willcausethrough operation of the connecting rods 116, 118 the oscillating motion of side rails 108 and 110 which supporttl'iecentral portions of the message bed and hence of therollers themselves thus imparting an oscillating motion of the massage rollers. This oscillating motion willbe-a combined elevation and depression of the side rails 108- and 110 caused by eccentric relation of the side rails 108 and 110 with respect to the shaft 66 through crank arms; 1'04 and 106 and push rods 105 and 107. Further, angular movementof the side rails 108 and 110 will be caused by connecting rods 116 and 118. Additionally, rotation of the shaft 86 will cause the movement of the foot board 7 92. Springs 150 are attached to frame 36 and anend shaft130. 1

As shown in Figure 7, the side rails 108, and 110 may have a planar upper surface 152 or may have a-co'nvex upper surface 154 or may have .a stepped upper surface 156 so that the massaging apparatus when tilted through movement of the arcuate frame support members 203ml 22 can form a chair-like supporting structure. The side rail are located near the sides of frame 36 but are mechanically independent. The ends of the shaft 130 ordinarily rest on the sides of frame 36. 7 However, to assume various shapes, the rails 108 and 110 can be detached from push rods 10S and 167 and inverted (Figure 7) orreplaced by side rails of a different shape, in which case the shafts 130 will have their end portions resting on-the upper edges of the side rails 103 and 110. Obviously, any suitable shaped side' rails may be utilized dependent only upon the particular needs of the patient. The connections to each of the'various shaped side rails of the other mechanisms of the invention remains the same.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will, be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary, However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit theinvention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A massage apparatus comprising a stand, apair of spaced frame support members pivotally adjustably secured to said stand, a platform secured to and extending between said support members, a frame carried by said support members, a pair of spaced side rails, means mounting said rails adjacent tothe sides of said frame, a roller bed overlying and supported selectively by said frame and saidside rails, and drive means connected'wi th 4 said platform and said roller bed for actuating said roller bed.

2. A massage apparatus comprising a stand, a pair of spaced frame support members pivotally adjustably secured to said stand, a platform secured to and extending between said support members, a frame carried by said support members, a pair of spaced side rails, means mounting said rails adjacent to the sides of said frame, a roller bed overlying and supported selectively by said frame and said side rails, and means carried by said platform for pivotally oscillating said side frame.

3. A massage apparatus comprising a stand, a pair of spaced frame support members pivotally adjustably secured to said stand, a platform secured to and extending between said support members, a frame carried by said support members, a pair of spaced side rails, means mounting said rails adjacent to the sides of said frame, a roller bed overlying and supported selectively by said frame and said side rails, a footboard slida-bly carried by said frame, and means connected withsaid platform for reciprocating said foot board.

t 4. A message apparatus comprising a stand, a pair of spaced frame support members pivotally adjustably secured to said stand, a platform secured to-and extending between said support members, a frame carried by said support members, a pair'of spaced side rails, means mounting said rails adjacent to the sides of said frame, a roller bed overlying and selectively supported by said frame and said side rails, said roller bed including a plurality of shafts having rollers eccentrically mounted thereon, and platfo'rmsupported means for simultaneously rotatingsaid shafts.

selectively supported-by said frame and said side rails,

said frame-support members having arcuate slots therein, and fastening means carried by said stand extending through said slots. 7 a

6. The construction ofclaim 1, wherein said side rails have convex upper surfaces. t

7. The construction of claim 1, wherein stid side rails have planar upper surfaces.

8. The construction of claim 1 wherein said side rails have stepped upper surfaces.

9. A massage apparatus comprising a stand, a pair of spaced framesupportmembers pivotally adjustably secure'dto said stand, a platform secured to and extending between said support members, a frame carried by said support members, a pair of spaced side rails, means mounting said rails adjacent to'the sides of said frame, a

foot board.-

10. A massage apparatus comprisingia stand, apair of spaced frame support members pivotally adjustably secured to said stand, a platform secured to and extending between-said support members, a frame carried by said support members, a pair of spaced side rails, means mounting said rails adjacent to the sides of said. frame, a roller bed overlying and supported selectively by said frame and said side rails, said frame support members having arcuate slots therein, fastening means carried by said stand extending through said slots, a foot boardslidably carried by said frame, and means carried by said platform for reciprocating said foot board;

11; A massage apparatus comprising a stand, a pair of spaced frame support members pivotally adjustably secured to saidstand, a platform secured to and extending between said support members, a frame carried by said Support members, a pair of spaced side rails, means mounting said rails adjacent to the sides of said frame, a roller bed overlying and supported selectively by said frame and said side rails, means carried by said platform for pivotally oscillating said side frame,-a foot board slidably carried by said frame, means for reciprocating said foot board, said roller bed including a plurality of shafts having rollers eccentrically mounted thereon, and means for simultaneously rotating said shafts.

12. A massage apparatus comprising a stand, a pair of spaced frame support members pivotally adjustably secured to said stand, a platform secured to and extending between said support members, a frame carried by said support members, a pair of spaced side rails, means mounting said rails adjacent to the sides of said frame, and a roller bed overlying and supported selectively by said frame and said side rails, said roller bed including a plurality of shafts having rollers eccentrically mounted thereon, means carried by said platform for simultaneously rotating said shafts, said frame support members having arcuate slots therein, and fastening means carried by said stand extending through said slots.

13. A massage apparatus comprising a stand, a pair of spacedframe supportmembers pivotally adjustably secured to said stand, a platform secured to and extending between said support members, a frame carried by said support members, a pair of spaced side rails, means 6 mounting said rails adjacent to the sides of said frame, a roller bed overlying and supported by said frame and said side rails, said frame support membershaving arcuate slots therein, fastening means carried by said stand extending through said slots, and means connected with said platform for pivotally oscillating said side rails.

14. A massage apparatus comprising a stand, 'a pair of spaced frame support members pivotally adjustably secured to said stand, a platform secured to and extending between said support members, a frame carried by said support members, a pair of spaced side rails, means mounting said rails adjacent to the sides of said frame, a roller bed overlying and supported by said frame and said side rails, means for pivotally oscillating said side rails, a foot board slidably carried by said frame, means carried by said platform for reciprocating said foot board, said roller bed including a plurality of shafts having rollers eccentrically mounted thereon, means for simultaneously rotating said shafts, said frame support members having arcuate slots therein, and fastening means carried by said stand extending through said slots.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,446,275 Glasin Aug. 3, 1948 2,461,102 Ackerman Feb. 8, 1949 2,593,982 Cash Apr. 22, 1952 

